CASH CASH!

John Paul from CASH CASH



Wrote to me!

You don't know how happy I am. After feeling so horrible about myself (from a person who will remain nameless (haha) This really made me feel sooo special!
I can't wait for when CASH CASH comes to Utah Aug. 9th for the VANS WARPED TOUR (:




I LOVE CASH CASH!!

pondering moment. Testimony in a nutshell.

Here I was making Banana Cream Pie in Foods (which was disgusting by the way. NOT because I made it. Because I am a FABULOUS cook. ha. But because the recipe for the crust was yuck. anywho.. lol) when I heard this girl bashing on the LDS church and how hypocritical we were because we don't allow gays; it just got me thinking. The whole day I was pondering about how I felt about these situations, and this is what I concluded. Basically I guess you can call it my testimony.

We are all given certain trails in our lives, weaknesses that we can overcome; whether that is swearing, alcohol, disobeying, and even homosexuality. Given these trials it is our duty to not pursue or give into these weaknesses. Heavenly Father loves us and cares for us. He will NEVER give us anything that we can't handle ourselves. He knows our weaknesses, and he knows what we are going through. One of the most important things to realize is that if continue to give in to these weaknesses and continue to do the things which we know is wrong, it will only bring us further apart from our Heavenly father, but it doesn't mean that he still doesn't love us!

We are given these weaknesses, trials, tribulations, or obstacles in our lives to test how strong our faith is in the lord and our Savior! We have to understand that we can overcome ANYTHING that comes our way if we put our faith and trust in the lord! It is also important that we remember that if we are ever facing something that we feel is too hard to overcome; we don't have to endure it alone. There are people that love us, want to help us, and want what is best for us. The bishop, young men young women leaders, and our parents are all there to help us! Our Heavenly Father is always there when we need him!

There were times in my life where I have done things that I was not proud of, and I knew they were wrong. I felt that Heavenly Father was disappointed in me, and that I didn’t deserve to say a prayer to him. I felt like I would be a hypocrite to get on my knees and talk to my Heavenly Father. But when you’re struggling and you need someone to talk to OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALWAYS BE THERE! That is the best time to talk to our heavenly father. He wants us to come to him when we need help. Never feel that our Heavenly Father doesn’t want to talk to us. He wants us to come to him when we are struggling in our lives!

Our life is not supposed to be perfect! We are all given certain trials. Everyone in the world is given an obstacle that they are supposed to overcome. But we can overcome ANYTHING! . Never give up hope. Never give up faith. And never give up the Lord.

Even though I wasn't happy in what she was saying, I'm glad she did mention it because I wouldn't have been able to ponder really about how I felt.

Regret.

You threw it around like a meaningless thing.
To me it meant the world.
If I could take it all back in a heartbeat I would.
I don't know why I wasted it on you.

I wanted it to be special,
Something I wouldn't regret.
But that's exactly what it turned out to be.

I wish I never met you,
Never looked you in the eyes,
I regret every minute spent around you.

But I can't take it back.
It's engraved in my brain.
Why did I fall into pressure?
But its done now,
to late to turn back.
This feeling I wish I never felt.


(I know what you're thinking.. and THAT isn't it. I'M MARRYING IN THE TEMPLE!! haha)
Just feelings towards someone who; like I said. Wish I never met. hahaha (:

Stake Youth Dance & Family Gathering (:

On Friday we had a stake youth dance that was actually supposed to be our "Valentines Dance". Me & Tj weren't quite sure if we wanted to go or not, but we ended up going anyways. There weren't a lot of people that went, but the music was wayy good. Here are some pictures from our AMAZING time together! lol



I was in the middle of a dance move.. hahaha



Do you LOVE my half self?? lol best pic I've EVER taken lol



hahaha.. uhm.. no comment lol

After me and some other friends hit up this party at Laser Assault. Pretty sure right when we got there EVERYONE was leaving. I saw people I hadn't seen for AGES. Joey is freakin HILARIOUS and wouldn't let go of me for what seemed like forever. Gawwhh i miss that kid! (: When we got to the dance floor it was just me, Sean, Amy, Sarah, Maile, and Laurel. Even though no one was there we still had a blast!

Sunday came and we fasted for my Aunt Sitela before she went in for surgery. To break our fast all the family members in Utah gathered at Seini's house for a big eating. We used to have eatings every first sunday of the month, but it died down for awhile. Hopefully we will still be able to continue them because I LOVE being around my family.

Seini bought this huge Mac Computer that is seriously the size of my families flat screen. And here are the pics we took on the cam! lol












Can you tell we were bored and just wanted to take some pics! lol Trying to get our minds away from being SUPER HUNGRY so we distracted ourselves by taking pics. Just me and my cousins Lupi, Maile, and Malia! Gotta luv 'em! (:

1st place, with a trip to Nashville, Tennesse.. FOR FREE!

I had the opportunity to compete for FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) in the Star Events Program. (info on what i did in blog below) We got to go the Layton from Tues-Thurs, and stayed in the Hilton Gardens Hotel. It was soo fun. On Tues we left right after school to Layton. We all went out for dinner at Golden Corral down the street, and we had free time left over. I called my friend who I hadn't seen for the longest and see if wanted to go out. So came and got me, and we just chilled in car til it was time to go back to the hotel.

The next day was the star events competition. I was DEATHLY nervous. I just BARELY finished my portfolio the morning of. My mind was ridiculously scatter brained, and I forgot so many things to bring. As I was sitting there waiting to go in front of the judges; I was talking to all my other competitors, and I knew I was going to do HORRIBLE. Their portfolios were AMAZING! There pictures were all cutely scrap booked, their papers were amazingly decorated, and their dividers were amazing too. And here I come with old dividers, my pictures were taped to plain white pieces of paper, and it just looked sooo plain compared to everyone else. At first I wanted to win 1st and go to Nationals, but after seeing their portfolio's I just wanted to get it all done and over with and just play.

I was second in line. The girl that went before me set the bar soo high. Her portfolio was amazing, and she just seemed like a very professional person. But I went into the room doing the best that I can. The read my binder 10 min. previous to my oral presentation. I knew my portfolio was NOTHING compared to all the other girls, so I had to win the judges over by my speech. I think they were won over by this..

"... Teaching is I believe, one of the most IMPORTANT career anyone can ever have. It is through teachers we know the basics of life. We wouldn't be able to read, write, or add, and subtract. Teachers help student's reach their full potential. And this is why I want to become a teacher. I want to be that person in someone's life who has made them who they are. I want to be able to help someone be all that they can be. I want to be that positive influence in a child's life... People asked me if I was scared or nervous before I went up in front of the class to teach them. The teacher warned me that first graders are not afraid to hold back in negative comments they have to say about the lesson. But I was neither nervous or scared. I was excited. I was anxious. The moment I stepped up in front of the students and started my lesson; I have never felt more comfortable. I knew that this job, this career, is something I was made to do. Teaching is something that is meant for me... There will be times where your hopes get low. You feel exhausted and become overwhelmed in so many things. You want to give up because things get hard. But then you remember why you became a teacher. You wanted to help students learn and grow. You wanted them to feel like they were on top of the world because they learned and did something right. You wanted to help them accomplish anything that they put their mind too. And then you know that everything you have done as a teacher is something well worth it."

When they called my name. "Receiving Gold in Senior Occupational from Mt. View High School, ALILIA LAVAKI." You wouldn't believe how shocked I was. It was funny because each category had to line up by the stage in recieve their award. And you have to understand that EVERYONE gets a medal. Some get bronze, silver or gold. But only the one with the highest score, the 1st place winner, gets to go to Nationals. So the category I was competing in, Teach and Train. Was the very last category. They announced everyone in my category, and were getting to move on. And here I am and three other people just standing there like uhh wait.. You didn't call us. So I was like oh great!! Did I really do that horrible that I don't even get a medal! So I'm standing up there looking like a fool while they have to pull out a computer to see where I placed. Then they were like oh yeah.. "Receiving Gold in Senior Occupational from Mt.View High School Alilia Lavaki." But I still didn't know I had won nationals yet. They hadn't announced it. Then they were like "for teach and Train first place going to nationals Alilia Lavaki." I was speechless. I didn't even think I did that great. But I guess it pays to be humble and know how to speak in public.

I CANT WAIT TO GO TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. My school district pays for flight, hotel, and all registration for Nationals. All I have to worry about is spending money. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN. (:

A teacher in the making (:

Last month I was able to go to Area competition for FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) Star Events. The judges gave me some critic Which I was able to take and use to make my event for Star Events Better. The event that I competed in was Teach & Train. I had to shadow a teacher (it could be any type of teacher. Piano, FACS teacher, or elem teacher) I chose Elementary teacher because that is what I want to be. I shadowed my 4th grade teacher who now teaches 1st grade. She is the reason why I want to become a teacher. She is amazing (: After I shadowed the teacher I was able to teach the class a lesson. I made a flyer that was passed out to the students that said.

Alilia Lavaki from Family Career and Community Leaders of America presents:

CULTURE DAY!

ha and a bunch of other random info.
Here are some pictures of how the day went (:



The lesson was on Culture, and I had a bunch of facts taped up on the board describing what Culture is.



The kids were great at participating and reading along w/what the diff. facts said.




This girl was SOOO cute willing to participate and try on some polynesian attire. In one of the pics she's shaking her head (but it looks like she is crying) because her mom is telling her that she should show them a hula that they practiced at home, but she was being shy.



The boys thought the necklaces were really cool (:



One of the facts was Culture is determined by what country you are from. I showed them a map of Tonga, and they were so cute. One of the girls were all, "Are you sure its there! You can't even see it!" ha they were so surprised on how small it is compared to America.



I'm sure this was EVERYONE'S favorite part. We had foods from different parts of the world. We had Latin foods, Japanese, Greek, French, Italian, Samoan, and German. It was great. I'm so glad that Mrs. Tingey helped with the food as well as one of them moms/teachers. The food looked amazing, and the students enjoyed it. (And this was ALL at the beginning of class when the students arrived so I was worried the wouldn't be hungry because they all had breakfast. But they ended up asking for seconds.)



I had asked on the flyer I made that if any student has anything from their culture to bring it to class. Even though only 2 people brought something to show I'm still glad someone did



I had each student while they were eating design their own mask. I was surprised at how much they loved and enjoyed it. They all wanted to wear it out to recess.

I can't express how grateful I am to Mrs. Tingey for allowing this all to happen on such a short notice!

I can't explain how much I have a passion to teach younger children. The joy and happiness I feel is indescribable. I know that being a teacher is something I know I am going to be, and career that is chosen for me. This is why I am here; to teach Heavenly Father's children. I don't know what else I would do if I don't become a teacher. I can't think of anything else better that I am good at. When I got up there to teach the children I wasn't nervous or scared. If anything, I felt so comfortable! I felt exicted and I knew that this is where I need to be. I am a future teacher in the making (:

M.C Hammer/Vanilla Ice/Love You Long Time Concert

So, I was hanging out with Hannah Lartey on Valentines day (I know, surprised because I wasn't with my boyfriend? haha syke it was a fun night filled with junk food, karaoke, and an intense dramatic movie. im surprised we didn't watch a chick flick) and she told me about Vanilla Ice and M.C Hammer coming out to Utah for a concert. I FREAKED out. I've always thought Vanilla Ice was sooo hot for a 40 year old man. haha Well I was SUPER stoked because I really wanted to go. We got our tickets the following week, and the next couple of weeks I was busy preparing my outfit because it was going to be 80's themed.

(picture of outfit coming soon... haha)

The night of the concert Hannah and I wer soooo excited we started getting ready as soon as I got back from school. Thanks to Chantel Hall for getting there SOO early we were one of the firsts ones in line.



We were able to get front row center! Here we are checkin out Love You Long Time during their sound check. And you can see the back of Kendall and my head. lol



If it wasn't for these two girls next to me being SOOO nice, we probably woudn't have been able to cut the line to be w/Chantel, and wouldn't have been able to get the front! They were soo cool and hilarious. They're moms were even greater! (:



Hannah's lookin at me weird because she told me I wasn't supposed to pose for the camera, but I did anyways! haha





I had to point out how close Hannah and I were to the front! Love You Long Time (my fav. powerpop/indie band from Utah was the opening act)






Vanilla Ice came out after Love You Long Time. I went CAHRAYZEE! lol just ask Hannah. I kept screaming I LOVE YOU VANILLA! The security guard in front of us was laughing. He came out and hit my hand, and I almost fainted! haha He did some of his old school songs like Go Ninja Go Ninja Go! and of course my fav ICE ICE BABY! Which I could rap the whole song for you! ha. And he did some of his rock stuff too. my fav. new one of his is Prozac.



After being invited on Stage by M.C Hammer, Vanilla Ice jumped off stage and stopped right in front of me to shake some hands. (: I love him! ha



M.C Hammer was next. I was surprised at the Hammer Pants we was wearing. They weren't that crazy like how he used to wear them. They looked more like loose trouser pants. But it was fun. He shook my hand (: lol He did some old school songs and some new ones, with teenage backup dancers including his son.



His backup dancers came to get audience members to join them on stage. But I was wayy to chicken to go up. I knew I probably couldn't get over the bar, and if I had gone up I wouldn't have had the opportunity to hug Vanilla! Hannah got to dance on stage w/them so it was great (:

It was wayy fun. People left a little early to try and get autographs from Vanilla Ice. The majority of the people on the floor were gons, So Hannah and I just danced out on the empty floor to some of M.C Hammer's new stuff. The concert ended at 1:00 in the morning, and As much as I would have liked an autograph from Vanilla the line was SUPER long, he probably would have left in the middle of the line, and I'm still under curfew! (: lol I'm glad I got to because it was AMAZING! THANKS HANNAH (:

MORE PICTURES TO COME!